Written Answers Wednesday 20 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra places on modern apprenticeship schemes have been created for people aged (a) 16 to 20 and (b) over 20 in North Ayrshire in the last 12 months.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland allocates apprenticeship places in response to demand from employers rather than on a geographic basis. Final allocations to training providers are based on discussions with local partners, employer intelligence and previous provider performance. For 2009-10 there has been no specific increase in the number of places made available in North Ayrshire.

Civil Service Relocation

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to relocate additional civil service jobs to Dundee.

John Swinney: Any decision to relocate civil service jobs to Dundee would be taken in conjunction with the Scottish Government’s policy of strategic asset management. Details of the recent review of asset management are at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/AMR . The policy is based upon better use of the existing government estate and solutions that represent best value for money for the Scottish Government as a whole.

  Where specific requirements are met, the relocation of public sector jobs remains an option. It must be demonstrated that relocation would lead to efficiencies and/or benefits for the wider Scottish Government; the organisation could operate effectively in another location, and relocation would be affordable and would not lead to any compulsory redundancies.

Communities

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much seized from criminals in the east end of Glasgow has been added to the CashBack for Communities fund in each year since 2005.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. Funds recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) are deposited in the Scottish Consolidated Fund and the majority is invested in the CashBack for Communities programme. There are a number of different routes by which money is recovered, including criminal confiscation, civil recovery and cash seizures. It is therefore not possible to determine exactly how much seized from criminals in the east end of Glasgow was added to the CashBack for Communities fund.

Defence

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the UK Government’s defence facilities in the Clyde area and at Rosyth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has asked the Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons to examine the economic impact of removal of nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde and would urge the Ministry of Defence to provide access to information to help with this assessment.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug treatment and testing orders were (a) issued to and (b) breached by offenders aged 18 and under in the Lothians region in each year since 2005, broken down by local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: The available information on drug treatment and testing orders imposed by Scottish courts on offenders aged 18 and under is given in table 1.

  Table 1. Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) Imposed by Scottish Courts: 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

 
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 East Lothian
 -
 -
 1


 Edinburgh City
 8
 1
 2


 Midlothian
 -
 -
 -


 West Lothian
 -
 -
 -



  Source: Scottish Government Court Proceedings database.

  Note: 1. The breakdown provided is an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. There is no sheriff court in Midlothian.

  The number of drug treatment and testing orders revoked due to breach is shown in table 2. Information on the age of offenders breaching DTTOs is not collected centrally.

  Table 2. Drug Treatment and Testing Order Revoked due to Breach: 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

 
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 East Lothian
 2
 -
 6


 Edinburgh City (including Midlothian)
 29
 39
 20


 West Lothian
 -
 23
 -



  Source: Returns submitted by local authorities to Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

Education

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the calculation used in determining eligibility for Educational Maintenance Allowance takes account of the number of dependent children in the household.

Fiona Hyslop: As a result of the 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support consultation, we announced on the 13 May 2009 several changes which target our support system more effectively at those young people who are most in need. This includes taking account of the number of dependent children in the household. The details of these and other changes are set out in a letter sent to the Convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, a copy of which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48116).

Education

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next review the calculation used in determining eligibility for Educational Maintenance Allowance.

Fiona Hyslop: As a result of the 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support consultation, we announced on the 13 May 2009 several changes which target our support system more effectively at those young people who are most in need. This includes changes to the calculation used in determining eligibility for Education Maintenance Allowance. The details of these and other changes are set out in a letter sent to the Convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, a copy of which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48116).

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools offer classes in (a) German, (b) Spanish, (c) Russian, (d) Chinese and (e) Arabic.

Keith Brown: This data is not collected by the Scottish Government, as it is a matter for local authorities and schools to determine which language courses they offer.

  The closest proxy data we have are numbers of schools making presentations for national qualifications. The following table shows these data from standard grade to advanced higher in publicly-funded schools for 2007-08.

  New national qualifications in Mandarin and Cantonese at higher and advanced higher were launched on 7 May 2009 by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to add to their May 2008 launch of qualifications at Intermediate 1 and 2 levels. No national qualifications are currently available in Arabic.

  

 Level
 German
 Russian
 Spanish


 Standard Grade
 181
 1
 109


 Intermediate 1
 21
 1
 75


 Intermediate 2
 118
 2
 114


 Higher
 187
 7
 126


 Advanced Higher
 63
 5
 38

Efficient Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the identification of efficiency initiatives.

John Swinney: Scottish Government are always keen to discuss efficiency initiatives in other administrations, including the other devolved administrations. I have discussed efficiency initiatives with the Northern Ireland Ministers.

Environment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Carbon dioxide emissions data for Scotland covering the period since May 2007 to the present day are not currently available. Emissions data for 2007 will be released later this year. The most recent emissions data available is contained in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2006 published by AEA Energy & Environment on 18 September 2008. A copy of that report is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46558).

European Working Time Directive

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications for it are if the UK Government is unable to obtain a long-term derogation from the EU working time directive.

Jim Mather: The European Parliament and Council failed to reach a compromise at the conciliation stage on the proposed changes to the Working Time Directive. As such the current legislation will remain in force, allowing the UK to retain the existing opt-out.

  If any new proposal is put forward by the Commission in the future the Scottish Government will look closely at what it might mean for Scotland and influence the UK Government accordingly.

Financial Services Sector

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it or its agencies is undertaking with the retail and banking sectors to promote acceptance of the euro in everyday transactions.

Jim Mather: I understand that some of the larger retail outlets already accept the euro in every day transactions. Most banks make available foreign exchange and international banking facilities for many major currencies – including the euro.

  These can help to facilitate retail outlets in the acceptance of other currencies as payment, in that they provide the means for the acceptor to obtain value.

  Historic Scotland (Scottish Government agency) properties throughout Scotland have been accepting euro notes since 1 July 2002 in relation both to entrance fees and retail outlets. The decision to take the euro was based on the desire to provide the highest standards of customer service. There has been a strong take up of this service especially at sites with substantial numbers of European visitors.

  The Scottish Government engages with the retail industry on a range of issues. Scottish Government and Scottish Retail Consortium officials are due to meet in early June and this matter will be discussed.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not monitor the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). However, we discuss progress on enforcement of the HMO licensing requirements, including prosecutions, with local authorities.

Housing

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for improving tenancy deposit practice.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is aware of, and shares, the concerns about unfairly withheld tenancy deposits.

  As part of the recently published Review of the Private Rented Sector, the Scottish Government collected evidence on the scale and nature of unfairly withheld tenancy deposits.

  The stakeholder working group, comprising tenant, landlord and agent representatives, met on 5 February 2009 to discuss the evidence on tenancy deposits, but remained divided about the extent to which this is a significant issue and the most appropriate action to take to improve tenancy deposit practice.

  However, stakeholders were keen to explore the mechanisms for some form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, which could include a statutory tenancy deposit scheme.

  I would therefore like to announce that we will be producing an evidence paper on the options and costs for using ADR to resolve tenancy deposits, by the summer. We intend to present the evidence to a final meeting of the stakeholder working group with the aim of trying to reach a consensus on the most appropriate action to take.

  If consensus is not possible, we will publish an options paper by the autumn, for wider public consultation with a view to making a final decision on this issue early in 2010.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the public domain the feasibility study and other relevant documents relating to its consideration of the Glasgow community court project.

Kenny MacAskill: The feasibility study – the programme initiation document (Bib. number 48175) – and copies of the letters from the Chair of the Community Justice Centre Project Board to the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council (Bib. number 48173) and his response (Bib. number 48174) have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the travel costs, including foreign trips, associated with the National Conversation, indicating the minister and officials involved.

Michael Russell: National Conversation activity by ministers and officials is normally conducted as part of a programme of Scottish Government business in a particular area. As a result no additional travel costs which can be directly attributed to the National Conversation are incurred. Costs relating to journeys arranged through the Government Car Service are not available in the format requested.

  Where travel costs by ministers or officials can be directly attributed to the National Conversation they are set out in the following table.*

  

 Date
 Event
 Minister/Official
 Mode of Travel
 Cost


 4-2-2008 
 First Minister addresses Scotland in the World Forum at Aberdeen University
 Policy officials
 Car hire
£51.76


 23-4-2008
 First Minister leads Scotland in Europe Seminar in Brussels 
 Policy officials
 2 return flights
£968.20


 29-7-2008
 Summer Cabinet event in Dumfries
 Policy officials**
 Car hire
£116.50


 5-8-2008
 Summer Cabinet event in Inverness
 Policy officials**
 Car hire
£109.11


 19-8-2008
 Summer Cabinet event in Pitlochry
 Policy officials**
 mileage/train 
£98.20


 26-8-2008
 Summer Cabinet event in Skye
 Policy officials**
 Car hire & ferry
£185.00


 11-11-2008
 Public event in Stornoway
 Minister for Parliamentary Business /Policy officials
 4 return flights
£1305.71


 19-1-2009
 Public event in Dundee
 Policy officials
 Car hire
£48.90


 23-2-2009
 Public event in Banff
 Policy officials
 Car hire
£135.00


 23-3-2009
 Public event in Arran organised as part of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands 
 Policy officials
Ferry
Van hire
Car hire
£113.20
£51.18
£63.01


 30-3-2009 
 National Conversation event with CEMVO in Glasgow
 Policy officials
 Van hire
£18.10



  Notes:

  *Expenditure amounting to £918.13 was incurred for travel associated with preparation of individual National Conversation events across Scotland.

  **National Conversation officials also assisted with other aspects of the Summer Cabinet programme.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail (a) the total cost of hospitality for and (b) how many people attended each National Conversation event.

Michael Russell: Over 483,000 hits on the National Conversation website; 37,000 people accessing Choosing Scotland’s Future online, and more than 2500 people attending events organised as part of the National Conversation demonstrates widespread enthusiasm for debating Scotland’s constitutional future.

  The following table sets out the cost of hospitality and the number of people attending National Conversation events which were directly organised, involved or were paid for by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government does not hold information about the cost of events organised by others.

  

 Date
 Event
 Numbers
 Hospitality Costs


 4 February 2008
 First Minister launches Scotland in the World Forum at Aberdeen University
 100
 Met by organisers


 13 February 2008
 First Minister National Conversation speech at Trinity College, Dublin 
 100
 Met by organisers


 12 March 2008
 Stuart Maxwell addresses SCVO National Conversation event in Edinburgh
 45
 Met by organisers


 26 March 2008
 First Minister launches National Conversation Civic engagement programme at Edinburgh University
 110
£1,759


 1 April 2008
 First Minister National Conversation speech Scotland Week University of Virginia address
 200
 Met by organisers


 23 April 2008
 First Minister leads Scotland in Europe seminar in Scotland House
 60
 Met by organisers


 3 May 2008
 Bruce Crawford addresses Church Without Walls event in Edinburgh
 205
 Met by organisers


 19 June 2008
 Bruce Crawford hosts Church leaders event in Parliament 
 19
 Met by organisers


 20 June 2008
 Bruce Crawford addresses SCVO event at SECC in Glasgow 
 45
 Met by organisers


 29 July 2008
 First Minister and Cabinet event in Dumfries 
 120
£1,859


 5 August 2008
 First Minister and Cabinet event in Inverness 
 100
 Met by hosts


 19 August 2008
 First Minister and Cabinet event in Pitlochry 
 104
£987


 26 August 2008
 First Minister and Cabinet event in Skye 
 105
£695


 11 November 2008
 Town Hall event in Stornoway hosted by the Deputy First Minister and Bruce Crawford
 60
£405


 13 November 2008
 First Minister attends Young Scot National Conference in Edinburgh
 95
 Met by organisers


 19 January 2009
 Public event in Dundee hosted by Kenny MacAskill and Shona Robison
 30
£133


 23 February 2009
 Public event in Banff hosted by Richard Lochhead and Stewart Stevenson. 
 40
 NA*


 23 March 2009 
 National Conversation public event in Arran High school hosted by the First Minister. 
 130
 NA*


 30 March 2009
 National Conversation event with Council for Ethnic Minority organisations hosted by the Deputy First Minister. 
 90
 NA*



  Note: *Invoices not yet received from caterers.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what professional advice it has sought on the feasibility of borrowing from financial markets for the Waverley railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has sought advice from a number of financial organisations regarding the funding of the Borders Railway project. Discussions have been held with Transport Scotland’s financial advisors (Messrs Ernst & Young), the Scottish Government Financial Partnerships Unit (FPU), the Scottish Futures Trust, Partnerships UK and the European Investment Bank (EIB). These discussions have been in addition to the market testing exercises where a variety of market lending organisations have entered into dialogue with Transport Scotland.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what external consultation was undertaken regarding the operation of freight trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line, as referred to in an email from DB Schenker Rail to Transport Scotland on 22 February 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland understand that the consultation referred to is with other train operating companies as part of the normal rail industry timetable setting process.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to passenger rail services between Edinburgh and Fife between 10 pm and 6 am necessitated that Transport Scotland require DB Schenker Rail to reroute deliveries of coal to Longannet power station via Larbert, Stirling and Alloa.

Stewart Stevenson: There were no changes to passenger rail services between Edinburgh and Fife between 10 pm and 6 am that necessitated the rerouting of coal deliveries to Longannet power station via Larbert, Stirling and Alloa.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intended to inform the public and affected householders along the Larbert to Stirling train line of the intention to operate freight trains at night.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no powers to control the operation of rail freight services at night and therefore would expect normal rail industry processes to apply.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it first considered the operation of freight trains between 11 pm and 7 am on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and how many train journeys to and from Longannet between 11 pm and 7 am were considered.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland first became aware of DB Schenker’s proposal to operate freight trains between 11 pm and 7 am in February 2008. The number of trains was a matter for DB Schenker to consider.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UP passenger loops at Stirling railway station allowing parallel moves on platform six and nine have been completed and, if so, what effect this has had on timings of the Alloa to Glasgow rail link and freight train operation.

Stewart Stevenson: The works have not been completed.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether speed restrictions on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line are being applied differently to trains with new and old wagons.

Stewart Stevenson: No.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate Transport Scotland has made of the cost of doubling the track on the railway line from Alloa to Stirling.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has not prepared a cost estimate for doubling the track on the railway line from Alloa to Stirling.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to an increase in the rateable value of wind farms and what the timetable is for taking a decision.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held and with whom regarding a potential increase in the rateable value of wind farms.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what average cost increase there would be over the life of a wind farm if the rateable value were increased from £5,000 to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms on the number of wind farms established.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the impact on proposals currently under consideration of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out in relation to the justification for an increase in the rateable value of wind farms and where this research is available.

John Swinney: Rateable values of all non-domestic property in Scotland, including wind farms, are determined by the Scottish Assessors who, in carrying out that function, act independently of the Scottish Government. Statute requires that all rateable values must be reviewed every five years. The Assessors are currently revaluing all non-domestic property in preparation for the next revaluation which comes into effect on 1 April 2010 and will take into account a number of different factors in determining the valuation of non-domestic properties. Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene in this process.

Road Accidents

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11165 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008, which roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide statistics requested and are ranked by estimates per km of road.

  2003

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 315
 3.99
 A770
 5
 0.39


 A761
 89
 2.82
 A74
 3
 0.24


 M8
 190
 2.17
 B7078
 5
 0.13


 A726
 99
 2.04
 A811
 5
 0.10


 A89
 120
 2.03
 A84
 4
 0.08


 A814
 109
 1.65
 A72
 7
 0.08


 A1
 120
 1.37
 A77
 12
 0.08


 A71
 149
 1.34
 A96
 11
 0.07


 A78
 91
 1.32
 A726
 3
 0.06


 A77
 173
 1.14
 A90
 14
 0.06


 A92
 159
 1.08
 A8
 4
 0.05


 A90
 255
 1.05
 A713
 4
 0.05


 A91
 83
 1.00
 A9
 21
 0.05


 A7
 127
 0.96
 A71
 4
 0.04


 A82
 229
 0.84
 A92
 5
 0.03


 A70
 83
 0.68
 A85
 5
 0.03


 A702
 90
 0.68
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A96
 101
 0.60
 A82
 7
 0.03


 A85
 88
 0.58
 A93
 4
 0.02


 A9
 227
 0.52
 A75
 3
 0.02



  2004

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 307
 3.89
 A916
 3
 0.19


 A761
 90
 2.85
 A77
 12
 0.08


 M8
 238
 2.72
 M74
 4
 0.08


 A726
 96
 1.97
 A91
 5
 0.06


 A89
 99
 1.67
 A90
 13
 0.05


 A71
 177
 1.59
 A92
 7
 0.05


 A70
 88
 1.59
 A85
 7
 0.05


 A814
 99
 1.49
 A96
 7
 0.04


 A78
 95
 1.38
 A9
 17
 0.04


 A90
 271
 1.12
 A8
 3
 0.04


 A1
 90
 1.02
 A71
 4
 0.04


 A7
 130
 0.99
 A72
 3
 0.04


 A77
 137
 0.91
 A70
 4
 0.03


 A92
 124
 0.84
 A859
 3
 0.03


 A82
 214
 0.79
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A96
 123
 0.74
 A82
 7
 0.03


 A803
 89
 0.73
 A702
 3
 0.02


 A702
 93
 0.70
 A83
 3
 0.02


 A85
 105
 0.69
 A87
 3
 0.02


 A9
 213
 0.49
 A93
 3
 0.02



  2005

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 269
 3.41
 A74
 3
 0.24


 A761
 84
 2.66
 A923
 5
 0.10


 M8
 222
 2.54
 A947
 6
 0.09


 A803
 90
 1.62
 A811
 3
 0.06


 A814
 106
 1.60
 A1
 5
 0.06


 A89
 94
 1.59
 A92
 7
 0.05


 A726
 76
 1.56
 A85
 7
 0.05


 A721
 72
 1.52
 A814
 3
 0.05


 A71
 143
 1.29
 A76
 4
 0.04


 A1
 110
 1.25
 A713
 3
 0.04


 A77
 153
 1.01
 A90
 9
 0.04


 A90
 235
 0.97
 A82
 10
 0.04


 A7
 126
 0.96
 A70
 4
 0.03


 A96
 139
 0.83
 A75
 5
 0.03


 A92
 120
 0.81
 A7
 4
 0.03


 A82
 210
 0.77
 A71
 3
 0.03


 A70
 87
 0.71
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A702
 72
 0.54
 A96
 4
 0.02


 A85
 73
 0.48
 A77
 3
 0.02


 A9
 192
 0.44
 A9
 5
 0.01



  2006

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 301
 3.81
 A726
 5
 0.10


 A761
 82
 2.60
 A90
 17
 0.07


 M8
 224
 2.56
 A8
 5
 0.06


 A726
 95
 1.95
 A84
 3
 0.06


 A814
 113
 1.71
 A6105
 3
 0.06


 A89
 97
 1.64
 A947
 4
 0.06


 A803
 79
 1.42
 A76
 5
 0.05


 A81
 78
 1.35
 A96
 9
 0.05


 A71
 144
 1.30
 A75
 8
 0.05


 A73
 81
 1.29
 M8
 4
 0.05


 A7
 145
 1.10
 A71
 5
 0.05


 A1
 91
 1.04
 A97
 4
 0.04


 A90
 243
 1.00
 A95
 4
 0.04


 A77
 133
 0.88
 A9
 17
 0.04


 A92
 109
 0.74
 A82
 10
 0.04


 A82
 183
 0.67
 A91
 3
 0.04


 A70
 78
 0.64
 A701
 4
 0.04


 A96
 101
 0.60
 A72
 3
 0.04


 A85
 86
 0.57
 A92
 4
 0.03


 A9
 236
 0.54
 A77
 4
 0.03



  2007

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 254
 3.22
 A8011
 3
 0.42


 A761
 79
 2.50
 A752
 3
 0.24


 M8
 193
 2.21
 A76
 7
 0.08


 M74
 85
 1.62
 A828
 3
 0.07


 A814
 104
 1.57
 M8
 6
 0.07


 A89
 92
 1.56
 A1
 5
 0.06


 A726
 72
 1.48
 A8
 4
 0.05


 A1
 103
 1.17
 A82
 13
 0.05


 A71
 127
 1.14
 A77
 7
 0.05


 A90
 247
 1.02
 A90
 11
 0.05


 A77
 136
 0.90
 A970
 5
 0.04


 A7
 118
 0.90
 A83
 6
 0.04


 A82
 226
 0.83
 A85
 5
 0.03


 A92
 114
 0.77
 A96
 5
 0.03


 A70
 81
 0.66
 A9
 13
 0.03


 A96
 109
 0.65
 A93
 5
 0.03


 A85
 94
 0.62
 A92
 4
 0.03


 A702
 76
 0.57
 A71
 3
 0.03


 A75
 79
 0.51
 A75
 4
 0.03


 A9
 218
 0.50
 A702
 3
 0.02



  Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 Returns.

  Note: Each sub-table lists only 20 roads, therefore, in some cases, other roads may have the same numbers of injury road accidents, or fatalities, as the last road shown in a particular sub-table. For example, the A701 was not the only road which had three fatalities in 2003.

Roads

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on using Rhinopatch technology to deal with potholes.

Stewart Stevenson: None. Maintenance of the local road network, and how they undertake any repairs, is a matter for individual local road authorities.

  I understand there are a number of road repair processes available to local authorities of which Rhinopatch is one. Scottish Government policy prevents the endorsement of any particular product that is marketed on a commercial basis.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-23196 to S3W-23200 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, whether Scottish Water’s capital expenditure programme was overspent against estimate for the year to 31 March 2009 and, if so, what the level was of over expenditure.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is tasked with delivering a £2.4 billion capital investment programme between 2006-10. In their Delivery Plan update for 2008-09 Scottish Water forecast that they would deliver between £650 million to £690 million of this investment. Their provisional outturn figure is £687 million.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-23196 to S3W-23200 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, how much Scottish Water is allowed to borrow under the borrowing consent agreement with the Scottish Government and to what extent this borrowing capacity is being utilised.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government made provision for Scottish Water to borrow £181.8 million in 2008-09. Scottish Water drew down the full amount.

Tourism

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from (a) overseas and (b) other parts of the United Kingdom visited Scotland in the first quarter of 2009 and how this compares with the same period in 2008.

Jim Mather: Data on the number of international visitors to Scotland is collected and issued by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and is made available on the ONS website.

  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/default.asp.

  Provisional figures for international visitors for the first quarter of 2009 are expected to be made available in July 2009.

  Domestic visitor figures are collected in the UK Tourism Survey (undertaken by TNS) and are published on an annual basis only, with the most recent figures (January 2008 to December 2008) expected in June to July 2009.